Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Bellarmine
No. 25 Troy Opens 2025 Season With Bellarmine
2/13/2025 4:20:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - The No. 25 Troy Trojans officially kick off the season this weekend with a three-game series against Bellarmine Friday-Sunday at Riddle-Pace Field.Â
The Trojans enter the 2025 season ranked No. 25 by D1Baseball and the USA Today Coaches Poll. It's the first time in Troy's history as a Division I program that they've begun the year ranked in the preseason top 25.Â
Gameday InfoÂ
The Matchup: No. 25 Troy (0-0) vs. Bellarmine (0-0)Â
When: Friday - 4 p.m. | Saturday – 12 p.m. | Sunday – 1 p.m.Â
Location: Troy, Ala. - Riddle-Pace FieldÂ
TV: ESPN+Â
Radio: Troy Sports NetworkÂ
Probable StartersÂ
FridayÂ
Troy: Garrett Gainous (48.1 IP, 5.40 ERA), RHP, Sr.Â
Bellarmine: Chase Carver (24.1 IP, 12.77 ERA), RHP, So.Â
SaturdayÂ
Troy: Noah Edders (79.0 IP, 6.37 ERA at Bradley), RHP, Jr.Â
Bellarmine: Aaron Ragat (Juco Transfer – El Camino College), LHP, R-So.Â
SundayÂ
Troy: Drew Nelson (2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA at Auburn), LHP, Jr.Â
Bellarmine: Zach Horwith (Juco Transfer – Wabash Valley College), RHP, R-So.Â
The Trojans are coming off a successful 2024 season with a 37-22 record, finishing No. 3 in the Sun Belt Conference and reaching as high as No. 21 in the national rankings. Head coach Skylar Meade is 109-68 during his three seasons as the Troy skipper, the most wins in the first three seasons of any Troy head coach.Â
Back in 2025 is catcher Brooks Bryan, an All-Sun Belt First Team selection a season ago while being named to the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list. In 2024, Bryan smashed the Troy RBI record with 85 on the season, which ranked fifth in the country and the most of anyone returning to college baseball in 2025.Â
The Trojans return the 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year and single-season home run record holder (27) Shane Lewis along with promising sophomore shortstop Peyton Watts. On the mound, both Grayson Stewart (Seventh – 212) and Garrett Gainous (Eighth – 209) enter the season among the top ten strikeout leaders in program history. Â
Of the 44 players in the 2025 Troy roster, only 19 returns from last season, but the Trojans reloaded with a talented mix of transfers and freshmen. Transfers Noah Edders (Bradley) and Drew Nelson (Auburn) make up two-thirds of Troy's opening weekend rotation while Steven Meier (Old Dominion) and Blake Cavill (Western Kentucky) are expected to be key cogs in the Troy lineup along with D1Baseball's Preseason Freshman of the Year Jimmy Janicki. Â
Quick HittersÂ
• Troy enters the 2025 season ranked No. 25 by both D1Baseball and the USA Today Coaches Poll. It's the first time in Troy's Division I history they've entered the season with a Top 25 ranking.Â
• Brooks Bryan and Blake Cavill were named to the Perfect Game Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.Â
• Brooks Bryan smashed Troy's RBI record in 2024 (85), ranking fifth nationally and the most of any player returning to college baseball in 2025.Â
• Brooks Bryan was named to the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list. Â
•Jimmy Janicki was tabbed the Sun Belt Preseason Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball and Perfect Game.Â
•Troy has eight players featured in D1Baseball's Preseason Position Rankings, the most of any mid-major program in college baseball. Â
    Brooks Bryan - No. 6 CatcherÂ
    Blake Cavill - No. 18 First Baseman (No. 1 in SBC)Â
    Jimmy Janicki - No. 38 Third Baseman (No. 1 in SBC, No. 3 among freshmen)Â
    Peyton Watts - No. 50 Shortstop    Â
    Garrett Gainous - No. 58 Starting PitcherÂ
    Noah Edders - No. 91 Starting PitcherÂ
    Luke Lyon - No. 43 RelieverÂ
    Jay Dill - No. 57 RelieverÂ
• The 2024 Trojans' offense set a program record for walks in a single season (382). They also drew the third most walks in the country. Â
• Troy also ranked eighth nationally and led the Sun Belt in on-base percentage (.424) in 2024. Â
• Shane Lewis enters the 2025 season ranked eighth in Troy history in home runs (32). Â
• Grayson Stewart enters the 2025 season ranked seventh in Troy history in strikeouts (212) and ninth in wins (19).Â
• Garrett Gainous enters the 2025 season ranked eighth in Troy history in strikeouts (209). Â
• Steven Meier, a transfer from fellow SBC program Old Dominion, ranked second in the conference in HBPs (24) and third in stolen bases (28) in 2024.Â
